Winter World Series Game 1: 919 Nationals 10, Elite Gone Mad 2

The Top Gun Winter World Series began play in Antarctica on Saturday morning with a 10-2 win over Elite Gone Mad. The game was shortened to five innings by the run rule.

With this being the signature fall Top Gun event, pregame was of course held at the most luxurious facilities:

EGM scored two quick runs in the top of the first without a hit. But they would get only five baserunners over the next four innings, and two of those were erased by web gem-caliber defensive plays. The 919 defense did not commit an error and did not allow a runner past second base after the first inning.

While the offense wasn’t exactly booming, with “only” seven hits, it was opportunistic, including 11 stolen bases.

Game 1 Nationals scoring plays

First inning

With one out, Elias reached on a shot through the left side. He stole second, went to third on Gavin’s fly to right, and scored on a wild pitch.

Score after one inning: Elite Gone Mad 2, 919 Nationals 1

Second inning

With one out, Brady launched a double off the fence. JT’s shot to right wasn’t played cleanly, scoring Brady. A wild pitch moved JT to third, and Andrew walked. When ball four got by the catcher, JT scored and Andrew hustled all the way to second. Joey smacked an RBI double. He stole third and scored on Asher’s fielder’s choice.

Score after two innings: 919 Nationals 5, Elite Gone Mad 2

Third inning

Gavin worked a leadoff walk and stole second. He moved to third on a fielder’s choice from Chace, then scored on a two-out single by Ben. Ben stole second and scored on Brady’s second straight double.

Score after three innings: 919 Nationals 7, Elite Gone Mad 2

Fourth inning

Andrew singled, stole second and third, and scored on a wild pitch.

Score after four innings: 919 Nationals 8, Elite Gone Mad 2

Fifth inning

Elias led off with a single. He stole second and third. With one out, Chace walked. Elias scored on a first-and-third play, and Chace moved up. Banks ended it with a walkoff single that scored Chace.

Score after five innings: 919 Nationals 10, Elite Gone Mad 2

Pitching Performances

Banks got the unenviable task of starting in the sub-arctic temperatures.

Andrew threw well in relief and fired a pair of hitless innings.

Joey closed it out with two scoreless innings.

Game 1 Web Gems

• Brady made a very nice running catch in right field in the first inning, ranging all the way over to the line to make the play.
• With a runner on second in the third, Elias came in on a sinking liner, made the shoestring catch, then fired to second for the inning-ending double play.
• Asher made a nice running catch on the left field line in the fourth.
• Andrew came charging in on a would-be single to right and made a strong throw to first to instead get the force and end the fourth.
• Now new and improved with two hands, Chace made a good stop of a grounder on the third-base line in the fifth, then made a strong throw all the way across the diamond to get the out.
• Asher threw to Chace to nab a runner trying to steal third in the fifth.

Game 1 line score	1	2	3	4	5	6	R	H
Elite Gone Mad	2	0	0	0	0	X	2	2
919 Nationals	1	4	2	1	2	X	10	7